Oaklanders know about blogs, and who some of the active bloggers are. But what about "video bloggers"? Video bloggers use camcorders of various types to show and tell what's happening in Oakland, or conduct interviews, or give their own view of an issue in a classic video-blogger style.
One definition of video-blogging, from Wikipedia, says this:
A video blog or video log, sometimes shortened to vlog[1] (pronounced 'vlog' or 'v-log') is a form of blog for which the medium is video,[2] and is a form of web television. Vlog entries often combine embedded video (or a video link) with supporting text, images, and other metadata. Entries can be recorded in one take or cut into multiple parts. The vlog category is popular on YouTube.
Video logs (vlogs) also often take advantage of web syndication to allow for the distribution of video over the Internet using either the RSS or Atom syndication formats, for automatic aggregation and playback on mobile devices and personal computers (See video podcast).
Oakland Vloggers:
Zennie62
As of this writing, there's no official list of Oakland Video-Bloggers. Zennie Abraham is perhaps the best known vlogger, and has over 300 Oakland-related videos on his YouTube Channel Zennie62. Zennie62 on YouTube has over 3,000 videos, 28,000 subscribers, and over 53 million video views. It was established in 2006 and Zennie62 became a YouTube Partner Channel (where it generates revenue from video views) in 2008.
Since then Zennie has covered the Academy Awards Red Carpet, was the first to use a camcorder to cover the NFL Draft in 2009, and has done so for nine years; covered tech events, and sci-fi conventions like Wonder Con and Comic Con, as well as the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and in 2012. He now runs a network of 78 blogs under the corporate umbrella Zennie62Media.net, and all which take videos from his YouTube channel and with his main blog at Zennie62.com.
In 2007, Zennie put Oakland on the national map when he was featured on the CNN / YouTube Democratic Debates. First, Steve Grove, then the News And Politics Editor At YouTube, asked Zennie to help make this Sample Video that other vloggers would use to submit their video questions for the presidential candidates (Do you recognize the bank location? It's the Bank Of America across from the Lake Merritt Farmers Market on Lake Park).
Second, Zennie's submission was "Question 36 - The Coin Question" and asked to then Senator and Presidential Candidate Joe Biden. Using the Crystal Cathedral at Lake Merritt as a back-drop, Zennie asked a question about the meaning of the words "In God We Trust" on the back of the quarter-dollar. CNN's Anderson Cooper asked Biden to answer the question live. Here's that video: "What Does 'In God We Trust' Mean To You?"
Zennie's most famous set of Oakland-related videos surround the Oscar Grant Murder. This one, called Oscar Grant Oakland Riots Of 2009: The Blog Report With Zennie62, is 25 minutes and chronicles the events during the giant riot a few nights after Grant was shot and killed by BART Officer Johannes Mehserle. Here's the video: "Oscar Grant Oakland Riots Of 2009."
When Zennie's not capturing unfolding events, he's interviewing politicians and just plain Oaklanders on various subjects. To Oakland's cab community, he's known for this video capturing the unbelievable antics of a Friendly Cab Driver who just didn't want to take direction from Zennie. You have to see it to believe it: Angry Cab Driver Abandons Cab In Oakland.
Most recently he made this vlog about Sudo Room's Hackerspace Party and this one about The New Parkway Theater, as well as a series of videos about the Old Parkway Theater's demise.
For the 2010 Oakland Mayor's Race, Zennie interviewed each one of the ten candidates, and was the only person or organization to use video to do so.
Other Oakland Vloggers
It's hard to find Oakland Vloggers who have been consistently active. The YouTube Channel "Good News In Oakland" has over 125 videos, 315 subscribers, and has been active since 2009. But its latest video on any subject was posted three months ago to this writing.
East Oakland 106 On YouTube comes as close to active as one's going to get to a consistent vlogger outside of Zennie62. His videos on sideshows and life in East Oakland are a must-see and he has over 1,000 subscribers. This video, called "East Oakland Side Show 106th and Mac" was posted a month ago.
Behold, Creators is a new vlogger to Oakland who recently relocated from New York City. Topics include everyday life for a married interracial couple, technology, education, skateboarding, and travel and exploration. Join his channel here.
Occupy Oakland has provided a good share of excellent individual vlogs, even if vloggers have not been consistently active. IBMaccMartelli produced this video called "Occupy Oakland: The Battle Of Oak Street." But there were so many national and international YouTubers posting and reposting to capture some of the Occupy Oakland attention that it was hard to know who the Oaklanders were at the time. Zennie62 has a 13-video playlist. Other than that, it's hard to find a vlogger who was consistent; by contrast, live streaming gave Oakland a new hero: OakFoSho.
OakFoSho did his damage on USTREAM, giving riveting live-stream coverage of Occupy Oakland related happenings on a regular basis. OakFoSho's YouTube Channel has just 12 videos but 141 subscribers. His last YouTube video was posted one year ago.
Crime Watch Oakland On YouTube has posted 8 videos and has 61 subscribers, but the last video was uploaded one year ago.
Phil Tagami used to host "Tagami Vision." What happened to that?
If anyone has more information on Oakland vloggers, please include it here!
